FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — A woman was arrested after a civilian flagged down nearby police officers to report an alleged kidnapping from a park on Friday night.
Fresno police officers were flagged down by a woman and a child at a park near North Marks and East Emerson Avenue at around 5:15 p.m.
The woman told police that a woman later identified as 55-year-old Debbie Blancas was pulling a child and walking away on North Marks Avenue.
Officers were told that Blancas has no children.
According to the investigation, before police arrived, the woman approached Blancas and noticed that the child was scared.
Blancas attempted to portray herself as the victim’s mother.
The woman attempted to take the child, but Blancas grabbed the child’s backpack and held on to him.
The woman got the child away from Blancas.
Blanca ran southbound on North Marks Avenue before the woman was able to flag down the police car.
Police said that Blancas had lured a 9-year-old boy away from the park by using a small dog, then took the boy in the opposite direction of his home.
Police were able to locate Blancas, and she was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and false imprisonment.
The boy was returned to his family safely.